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eMOLT Update 2023-07-20
Software Improvements
This week, George and Huanxin spent some time torture testing the
Deck Data Hub software that we are hoping to roll out across the eMOLT
fleet over the coming months. This software is a blend of code from
Lowell Instruments, Ocean Data Network, and the original python scripts
developed by JiM, Huanxin, and many interns. By working off a unified
code base, we hope to make troubleshooting more efficient, provide some
of the features our industry partners have been asking for, and
streamline our data transmission.
For those of you who haven’t seen this software yet, you can check
out some screenshots and features below:

- In the top left, the color of the vessel icon indicates which
version of the software is running, so we know if your box needs a major
update or not.
- In the middle up top is a network connection indicator showing
whether your vessel is connected to a WiFi network, cellular network, or
neither.
- In the top right is a feature that our industry partners
have requested time and time again – a screen dimmer!
- On the bottom left the cloud message indicates whether your vessel
is successfully transmitting data to the cloud or not.
- The tabs across the top allow you to toggle back and forth between
the main status screen, plots of data, and an information screen that
shows the time of the last interaction your deckbox had with your
logger(s) and whether it successfully downloaded the data from the
logger or not.
- In the middle of the screen is a large icon indicating your system’s
current activity. In this case, the system is in “resting” mode to save
power while the vessel is stationary in port.
Just as important as unifying what people see on their deckboxes is
unifying the information we receive on the back end. For example, the
new software sends email updates back to the eMOLT team whenever a
deckbox powers up, successfully downloads a logger, or runs into an
error, all information that will help us keep your systems running
smoothly and (hopefully) reduce the number of times we call to bug you
about why the system isn’t working.
Finally, the new software transmits data into a pipeline connected
directly to our new database. That means the data you collect are
available almost immediately to the modelers who rely on that
information to improve their ocean forecasts. Additionally, having a
single storehouse of data makes it easier for us to leverage all of this
information for other scientific research beyond ocean forecasts.
Hardware Improvements
In addition to improving the software on the boxes, we’re also
looking for ways to make the hardware more resilient without breaking
the bank. Recently, we’ve begun heat-shrinking the power connections
outside the box to reduce problems with rusting and cables vibrating out
of place.

One great thing about working with fishermen and scientists is that
there’s no shortage of creative problem solvers in the room. If you have
an idea for making these boxes more resilient to life on board
commercial fishing vessels, please feel free to reach out!
Acknowledgements
Thanks this week to Chris and Captain Mike at Sea Watch International
for your efforts to get the F/V Sea Watcher II online. We appreciate you
being so communicative and making sure everything was up and
running.
Thanks also to Owen and Captain Willis up in Provincetown for
bringing the F/V Donna Marie back online after a long hiatus due to
bluetooth problems.
Forecasts
This week, in addition to the NECOFS forecasts we’ve been including,
we also have the bottom temperature forecast from the Doppio modelers at
Rutgers. There are many differences between these two models. Among
them, Doppio assimilates eMOLT data, but we are still in the process of
setting that up for the NECOFS group. That means, the Doppio modelers
use the real-world observations from this program to improve their
model.
One major difference this week is a streamer of cold water running
along the shelf southwest to New Jersey that’s present in Doppio, but
not in NECOFS. According to observations in that area from eMOLT
participant F/V Christi Caroline and other Cooperative Research Branch
partners, bottom temperatures are more in line with what’s predicted in
Doppio, and cooler than what’s predicted by NECOFS.
NECOFS Bottom Temperature Forecasts


Doppio Bottom Temperature Forecasts

Announcements
The Woods Hole
Science Stroll is back on this year! On August 12, we welcome anyone
who’s interested in meeting scientists and learning more about the work
we do to come down to Water Street in Woods Hole. In addition to the
Cooperative Research Branch staff many of you already know and other
NOAA Fisheries scientists staff from other scientific organizations will
be around giving demos of hardware and explaining their research. We’d
be happy to have you stop in! Participating organizations include:
- Marine Biological Laboratory
- US Coast Guard
- US Geological Survey
- Woodwell Climate Research Center
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution …and more!
The Commercial
Fishing Business Cost Survey is live for vessel owners to provide
feedback on the economic realities faced by people who run fishing
businesses. The survey closes July 31.
The Commercial
Fishing Crew Survey is an opportunity for crewmembers and hired
vessel operators to provide information about the social and economic
well-being of commercial fishing vessel crews and better understand how
management and environmental change affect important, socially
vulnerable groups.
All the best, George and JiM
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